2018 AP mock draft: Chargers snag a great linebacker

The NFL Draft begins this Thursday night, but on Tuesday, the Arrowhead Pride mock draft continues...

With the 17th pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Los Angeles Chargers GM lfarley62 selects...

Georgia LB Roquan Smith

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers can’t believe their luck with what’s available on the defensive side of the ball: possibly the top run stopping DT (Payne), one of the best ILB (Smith), and one of the best S (James). I believe they go with the safe pick and select Smith out of Georgia. The Chargers’ defense is pretty solid minus right up the middle and Smith would definitely help fill that weakness. Payne and James are both very tempting, but Smith fills the void that was left when T’eo flopped a few years ago. Rookie D-linemen usually struggle at first and they already have an enforcer at safety, so they need an immediate impact player to make a deep playoff push before Philip Rivers’ arm falls off. I, for one, hope that none of these players are available for the Chargers because they could all definitely help.

With the 18th pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Seattle Seahawks GM DuckDonaldson20 selects...

Iowa CB Josh Jackson

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With the departure of Richard Sherman, Jackson will fit right into the mold of what the Seahawks like in their CBs, that being length and good ball skills.

With the 19th pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Dallas Cowboys GM bashman0000 selects...

Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The draft is in our house this year, so we cannot screw this pick up. There are lots of good players left at this point, but there aren’t a ton of great fits for us despite our many glaring holes. Our recent safety play makes Derwin James more of a luxury than a necessity no matter how good he may be. Instead, we choose to bolster the interior line which could use a real shot in the arm. Statistically, the Cowboys defense was above average and Demarcus Lawrence and David Irving are doing a great job, but both are on one-year contracts and outside of them, there are no impact performers. Additionally, we don’t yet know exactly what we have in Taco Charleton, but he didn’t start a single game last season. Payne gives us the interior stuffer we need, shows great speed and potential as a situational pass rusher, and seems to represent a good value at this point. Defensive linemen aren’t very deep in this draft so we fill our need in the first with a guy who can make an impact on all three downs (and catch the occasional touchdown pass).

With the 20th pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Detroit Lions GM MrDoolotta selects...

UTSA DL Marcus Davenport

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

New head coach Matt Patricia needs some pass rush on defense and they go with a good fit in Marcus Davenport out of UTSA. The Lions hired his position coach out of UTSA so he will look forward to a smooth transition. Although raw, he has the potential to be a sack machine if he can add a few more pass rush moves to his repertoire.

Davenport has a very high ceiling. Stayed in his hometown to play for a new program at UTSA. Posted 3, 4, and 7.5 sacks in his three seasons at the school. His size and strength will help him feast in the North.

With the 21st pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Cincinnati Bengals GM underdawg87 selects...

Georgia OL Isaiah Wynn

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals have multiple needs along the offensive front, and although Wynn played tackle at Georgia, his size has caused many to project him at guard or even center in the NFL. By selecting Wynn here, the Bengals have the luxury of a versatile lineman that allows them flexibility throughout the remainder of the draft to take the best lineman available rather than being pigeon holed to a specific position. Wynn will be a welcome upgrade to a Bengals OL that ranked as one of the five worst units in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus.

With the 22nd pick of the 2018 Arrowhead Pride mock draft, Buffalo Bills GM tjsimmons selects...

Southern Methodist WR Courtland Sutton

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

With this pick, the Bills get a rookie wide receiver to grow with their new quarterback. Sutton isn’t a burner, but his big body and great hands will let him contest jump balls and shine in the red zone. The Bills were in the bottom half of the league on touchdown conversions within the red zone, and Sutton should help that tremendously.

2018 AP mock draft results

1. Browns - QB Sam Darnold (69 percent)
2. Giants - DE Bradley Chubb (44 percent)
3. Jets - QB Josh Allen (46 percent)
4. Browns - RB Saquon Barkley (82 percent)
5. Broncos - G Quenton Nelson (50 percent)
6. Colts - LB Tremaine Edmunds (47 percent)
7. Bucs - RB Derrius Guice (21 percent)
8. Bears - DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (59 percent)
9. 49ers - CB Denzel Ward (71 percent)
10. Raiders - WR Calvin Ridley (70 percent)
11. Dolphins - DT Vita Vea (77 percent)
12. Bills - QB Josh Rosen (71 percent)
13. Redskins - OT Connor Williams (59 percent)
14. Packers - OLB Harold Landry (65 percent)
15. Cardinals - QB Lamar Jackson (77 percent)
16. Ravens - WR DJ Moore (66 percent)
17. Chargers - LB Roquan Smith
18. Seahawks - CB Josh Jackson
19. Cowboys - DL Da’Ron Payne
20. Lions - DL Marcus Davenport
21. Bengals - OL Isaiah Wynn
22. Bills - WR Courtland Sutton